why did Fender make the 3 hole bridge?

[B-Mac]

just to add to the convo pot, if you're having trouble finding a 3 hole old style tailpiece instead of your american standard high mass bridge you can get a (Fender American Deluxe Bass chrome Bridge 005-8396-000) it fits perfect for an american standard 3 hole jazz bass replacement. I got one and the strings can get lower then the high mass ones. they fit and sound pretty good

Interesting, as the bridge on my 2014 MIA Deluxe Precision is the same as my 2016 MIA Jazz Standard.

At least in pictures. You got my curiosity piqued so now I’ll need to put them side by side

 

[Mike Vee]

just to add to the convo pot, if you're having trouble finding a 3 hole old style tailpiece instead of your american standard high mass bridge you can get a (Fender American Deluxe Bass chrome Bridge 005-8396-000) it fits perfect for an american standard 3 hole jazz bass replacement. I got one and the strings can get lower then the high mass ones. they fit and sound pretty good

yep and it's more like a vintage bridge and lighter

 

[SJan3]

Don't tell these guys cause collectively they've been sporting flats for 99 years.
View attachment 4701995

Wow! I stand corrected. What flats allow for such a breakpoint?

 

[jamzcl]

Interesting, as the bridge on my 2014 MIA Deluxe Precision is the same as my 2016 MIA Jazz Standard.

The Am Standards and Am Deluxe's should be the same after '08 and prior to the Ultra's.

 

[BTL]

Hipshot makes bridges for this mounting pattern, just not the KickAss:

B Style Fender® Mount Bridges

A Style Fender® Mount Bridges

 

[2saddleslab]

Wow! I stand corrected. What flats allow for such a breakpoint?

I've used Pyramid, Fender, LaBella, GHS [heavy gauge], and for nearly the last 20 years, TI flats. Never had an issue and have even reused strings without a problem, which always surprised me. I will admit some string sets were harder to intonate, like the heave gauge GHS. And it might take nudging a saddle right or left to dial it in. Never had a break either.

Flatwound strings and string thru bridges were your only option on the early Fender basses.

 

[SJan3]

I've used Pyramid, Fender, LaBella, GHS [heavy gauge], and for nearly the last 20 years, TI flats. Never had an issue and have even reused strings without a problem, which always surprised me. I will admit some string sets were harder to intonate, like the heave gauge GHS. And it might take nudging a saddle right or left to dial it in. Never had a break either.

Flatwound strings and string thru bridges were your only option on the early Fender basses.
View attachment 4702544

That is true. Shame on me for forgetting the original P bass. And flats were it back then.
I must be going senile. Thanks

 

[pfflam]

There were string-throughs in the Tele re-issues in 68, and again in 72 -so they had 3-screw bridges . . . but they were the two saddle 51-p style

 

[Grinderman]

Your inquiry is very very important to us. Fender will be with you shortly.

 

[JIO]

3 hole bridges rock

I don't know about the 5 string version having never installed one, but the 4 string 3D bridge is a 5 hole bridge - two above the 3 that are mostly under the saddles. You can see them under the A & D saddle platforms.